Three siblings from a small town outside of Seoul struggle to find their own path to freedom, love, and happiness.  But between long work days and an hour and a half long commute both ways into the city, the energy to find a life outside of their simple existence seems impossible.  Meanwhile, a mysterious stranger who works for their father seeks peace and healing through the quiet, country life they are so eager to leave behind.  As each of them grows and changes, they will find their own definition of liberation.  

Son Seok Koo as  Gu Ja Gyeong

Gu Ja Gyeong is an apprentice for a sink maker in the countryside.  He also helps the family maintain their farmland.  His full identity and past are a secret that he refuses to share.  But his extreme alchoholism hints at a troubled and painful life.   When his boss' daughter suggests that the two of them begin a relationship, he is intrigued in spite of his resistance to let anyone get close to him.  As the two get to know each other, Gu begins to look foward to their time together and Mi Jung's quirky perspectives on life.  But eventually his previous life comes to find him and he is forced to return to the nightclub life he had left behind.  And without Mi Jung in his life, he is again overcome with lonliness and the demons of his past. Rekindling their relationship seems to be his only chance to find true happines.

Gu Ja Gyeong had a dark and violent life before running away from it all to live in the country, where he works himself into exhaustion and drinks away his emptiness.  But the alcohol has begin to take a toll on his physical and mental health.  Son Seok Koo's portrayal of this character was emotionally touching and subtly sweet.  Every smile feels like a triumphant bit of sunshine.  It's easy to see why fans around the world were swooning over this character and his troubled heart.    

Kim El as Yeom Ki Jung

Yeom Ki Jung is the middle child.  She desperately wants to be in a relationship, even if it means "loving just anyone".  When she meets a single dad who is the brother  of one of her childhood friends, she immediately falls for his kind heart.  But his sister and young daughter aren't happy with their relationship, and do everything they can to stand in their way.

♥ Meaningful Dialogue

The writing in this drama is top-notch and is full of many beautiful monologues and conversations that examine life in deep and compelling ways.  Their unique perspecives gave me food for thought in my own life while also helping me understand more about their characters.  Each of the siblings, in their own ways, had the ability to express their feelings in interesting ways and weren't afraid to challenge the social norms with their personal beliefs.  And I loved how the long moments of silence also manage to speak volumes.  

 ♥ Adult Relationships

The realistic relationships in this drama were well-written and relateable.  The way that the Yeom family took each other for granted is so normal in our busy lives.  Tae Hoon's inability to stand up to the women in his family, while frustrating, made perfect sense in the context of all their family had been through.  And the romance between Mi Jung and Mr. Gu was just so touching and beautiful.  Of course, enabling an alcoholic may not be the best strategy, but I loved her ability to love him completely without ever trying to make him change.  She was able to make him feel the kind of peace he had so deperately been searching for. 

Ki Jung's Boss

In the beginning, I was really happy for Ki Jung when she started dating Tae Hoon, but I also loved the unlikely chemistry she had with her boss, Lee Min Gyu.  It was obvious that Min Gyu was falling for her and her habit of always saying the unexpected.  But once she starts seeing Tae Hoon, Min Gyu just disappears, which was a little disappointing for me.  I would have like to at least see their friendship continue, and I'm sure he could have given her plenty of dating advice!

Chang Hee's Relationships

I loved Yeom Chang Hee's character and felt like it was easy to understand why he would feel the way he did in most situations.  But his romantic storylines were a bit puzzling.  In the beginning, he had a girlfriend, who we see take the train to their town after their break up, just to see what it was like.  But after all that effort, she never reaches out to him again.  It just seems like she must still care about him, so I thought it was weird that she didn't do anything to rekindle their relationship.  And then we had the cute girl at work who kept openly flirting with him.  Although he was obviously interested in her, he seemed to give up after the ride home got ruined.  And after both of those, he randomly proposes to Hyun Ah.  I guess it just seemed like he didn't have any idea what he wanted, which is probably why he ended up alone in the end.   

As with many slice of life style dramas, "My Liberation Notes" doesn't give us a lot of real endings.  More like the hope that life will go on for these amazing characters, and they will live on doing their best.  Most excitingly, even though Mi Jung has quit her job and got a new one, The Liberation Club has decided to resume activities until they find the liberation they are looking for.  I love that!  After their mother's sudden death, their father remarries, and he and his wife live alone in their old house.  The siblings are living together in Seoul. Ki Jung and Tae Hoon have decided to get married when his daughter turns 20.  They have plenty of rocky years until they reach that point, but I hope they make it.  They both deserve it.  After his spontaneous proposal to Hyun Ah, she and Chang Hee date for awhile, but ultimately break up.  Chang Hee blames their break up on the fact that he is finally doing well and she needs someone as broken as her. But he has no animosity and tells her that if she ever wants to come back, and he is still single, he will take her back.  After accidentally stumbling into a class for aspiring Funeral Directors, Chang Hee seems to have found his path for the future.  And Mi Jung and Mr. Gu finally see each other after a long seperation.  They have no empty promises for the future, but they are enjoying  being together.  The final scene shows him taking his money stash and heading out, although where he is heading is left open to interpretation.  But we also see Mi Jung waiting, presumably for him, which gives all us shippers real hope that he is coming to her.  And that is where they leave us!

After being dumped by her fiancee, weeks before the wedding, Jin Ha Kyung isn't interested in romance.  And since her cheating ex-fiancee, Han Ki Joon, is also a co-worker, she has vowed to never date a guy from work again.  But when Lee Shi Woo, a handsome new weather forecaster, shows up at her office, she is tempted to break her own promise.  In a crazy twist of fate, Jin Ha Kyung's ex is now married to the woman Lee Shi Woo was living with.  And all four of them are working together for the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).  Life is bound to get stormy, both personally and professionally.

Song Kang as Lee Shi Woo

Lee Shi Woo has a natural intuition when it comes to understanding weather that finally gets him transferred to the main headquarters of the KMA.  He quickly falls for his new supervisor, but she isn't interested in dating someone she works with.  But he will do his best to change her mind and win her heart.  And lucky for him, the demands of the job often push them together.  But a difficult relationship with his father threatens to tear them apart almost before they have begun.

Lee Shi Woo carries the scars of losing his mother at a young age and having a father who was more interested in gambling than raising his son as a single parent  Because his father still shows up for a handout on a regular basis, Shi Woo has decided he can never saddle someone he loves with the burden of his family, so he has no interest in marriage.  Unlike, Ha Kyung, Shi Woo has a bit more character development, but his interactions are spread too thin between all the other characters to get the depth and chemistry needed.  In my opinion, Song Kang's acting isn't responsible for that.  He just didn't have enough to work with.

Yura as Chae Yoo Jin

Chae Yoo Jin was living with Shi Woo, but when she found out he wasn't interested in marriage, she ended their relationship.  Now she is married to Ki Joon.  She fell in love with Ki Joon's strong sense of maturity and his ability to take care of her.  But once they are actually married, she finds him to be much more immature than she thought.  Frustrated with her unmet expectations, she delays registering the marriage, until she can be sure she wants to stay married.  

♥ Weather Team

One of the best relationship developments in this drama is not romantic, but the family feeling that develops between the members of Chief Forecasting Team 2.  In the beginning, Ha Kyung had to do everything herself and Dong Han refused to step in and cover for her being late.  But by the end, they had gelled into a team who could trust and rely on each other.  And Oh Myung Joo was sweet as the "mother " of the group, always working to keep things running smooth and offer a bit of advice when needed.

 ♥ Bae Su Ja

Kim Mi Kyung was great in the role of Ha Kyung's mother, Bae Su Ja. Of course, Kim Mi Kyung and Park Min Young have a long history of working together, often playing mother and daughter, so I always love their scenes together.  There is obviously plenty of real affection between the two.  But also as a character, I really appreciated the way Bae Su Ja talked and listened to Shi Woo.  Eventually she was able to put her own dreams of marrying her daughter to a successful, financially stable mate aside and see that she and Shi Woo were truly happy together.  And that was the most important thing in a "good" marriage.  

Weather Emergencies

I found the concept of a drama about weather prediction interesting, but I feel like having a weather "emergency" for every episode was overkill.  Every weather condition required a lot of background information to bring viewers up to speed on the concept, which tended to drag down the tempo.  I think they could have covered a couple of the more interesting weather stories and devoted the rest of that time to the characters that are supposed to be the focus of the show. 

Broken Engagement

For someone who had dated a guy for 10 years, it seemed like Ha Kyung got over the broken engagement too quickly.  Especially when you consider that she had no clue that anything was wrong or that he was seeing someone else.  I think it's great that she and Ki Joon got to the place where they could be friends, but it seemed too fast and easy.  And honestly, she let Ki Joon off the hook much sooner than she should have.  

"Forecasting Love and Weather" gives us a series of happy endings.  Shi Woo asks his father to get treatment for his cancer and try to be a father to him, and the two begin taking steps to heal their relationship.  Seok Ho publishes Tae Kyung's book and says he will publish all her books from now on.  He also tells her he will wait until his title changes from boyfriend to husband.  Dong Han and his wife talk and decide to stay together and try being a real family.  And Soo In decides to stay on Team 2 and not transfer to a new department.  The team predicts the first snow and Ha Kyung and Shi Woo run to find each other at the Seoul Observatory as the first snow falls around them.  They realize being together is the most important thing and they share a kiss.  The final scene shows Shi Woo's father and Ha Kyung's mother meeting in a restaurant, for what we can assume is a family introduction as  a step toward an engagement.  But when Shi Woo and Ha Kyung peek in to see the awkward mood of the room, they run away hand in hand, laughing as they go. 

A group of student from the Architecture Department at Nulji Science and Technology High School struggle to navigate the joys and sorrows that come with growing up and finding their own path in life.  A trade school may not be the traditional high school experience, but for this particular group of students, it could provide the perfect foundation to help them attain their life-long dreams. But corruption within the school and its administrators threatens to destroy their hopes, and it could mean the end to the school as a whole.  

Jo Yi Hyun as  Jin Ji Won

Jin Ji Won has always dreamed of building traditional Korean houses.  She attends Nulji Science and Technology High School, even though her mother, who runs a cram school, disapproves.  Ji Won loves going to school and working with wood, and she also loves it that her childhood sweetheart, Ki Hoon, is in her class.  She is a born activist who can't stand injustice.  Her personal protests are well-known by her teachers and classmates.  So when her favorite new teacher is fired by the corrupt school director, she can't help but jump in to try to save his job and her school's reputation. 

Jin Ji Won is passionate and stubborn.  She always gives her best and her classmates love her fun-loving personality.  Once she makes a decision, she will stick with it no matter how much hardship it brings.  Jo Yi Hyun played this personality well, but the deeper motivations of her character aren't really explored.  For a leading role, she seemed kind of simple and one-dimensional.  For a drama without much plot development, I would have liked to see more about the characters themselves.  

Hwang Bo Reum as Kang Seo Young

Kang Seo Young is an orphan who works diligently to study and try to make it into college on her own.  She focuses all her energy on studying and padding her college application with activities that will help her enrollment.  She asks Young Joo to pretend to date her, so that other boys will leave her alone.  But her motivation for the arrangement are much more complex than that.

♥ Vocational School

I thought it was an interesting concept to focus on a trade school.  The glimpses into some of the biases against this style of school and its students was enlightening.  This kind of education is such a unique experience and it gave a new flavor to the School series.  It was also nice to get to see some traditional architecture during the drama.  

 ♥ Grandpa

I never miss a chance to give a shout out to Park In Hwan, and as usual, he gave a great performance as the caring grandpa.  I really loved his bond with both Ki Joon and Ji Won.  His affection for them and wood working made a sweet relationship that felt sincere.  Watching Ji Won grieve his death as much as Ki Joon was heartbreaking but it made me glad there was someone who could understand his loss.  That point made it clear that even if he felt like he was, Ki Joon was not alone.

Teachers' Relationship

The relationship between Lee Kang Hoon and Song Chae Rin was hard to figure out.  Sometimes they seemed perfectly content and amicable as co-parents, sitting on a bench having a pleasant conversation and yet neither one figured out they were about to be working together.  Were they on good terms or not?  Was it his being fired that led to their divorce or was there more to it than that?  And maybe most importantly, what were their feelings for each other now?  Chae Rin tried to protect him and seemed to gain a better understanding of what led to him losing his job, but it didn't seem like their relationship had changed at all.  I just didn't get what was going on with this "couple". 

Mom

Kong Ki Joon's mom showing up out of nowhere to take him away to Canada seemed weird and sudden.  There was barely any mention of her until that point and she just kind of assumed he would want to pick up his whole life and go with her.  There was no attempt on her part to express any regret for leaving him in the first place, and they barely had enough memories or things in common to carry on a full conversation.  There was nothing interesting or credible in this storyline.  

"School 2021" has a pretty predictable ending when the chairman of the school wakes up at the last minute to save it from being closed forever.  The class graduates and everyone goes on to live their dreams. Ko Eun Bin becomes an idol and she and Ho Sung are still dating and doing great.  Ki Joon decides not to go to Canada and he stays with his friends.  He and Young Joo end up working together for the company that sponsored their group project.  And Ki Joon and Ji Won do end up dating long distance.  Just not as big a distance as Canada.  Ji Won is working in a nearby town to help build a traditional house.  In the final scene, Ki Joon and Ji Won's dad commiserate on the roof about how much they miss her.  Unable to stand it anymore, Ki Joon runs off to pay Ji Won a surprise visit and all is well in the land of romance.

Ha Young Eun leads the design team at a successful fashion company.  After her first love ghosts her with no explanation, she devotes her life to her career and avoids any emotional commitments.  One day she meets a handome photographer who threatens to tear down the walls she has built around her heart.  But the two of them share an ill-fated past that could make it impossible for them to ever be together.  Is their love strong enough to stand against social and family pressures?

Jang Ki Yong as Yoon Jae Guk 

Yoon Jae Guk is a free-lance photographer whose work is in high demand.  He goes by "J" in the fashion world and everyone is familiar with him and his art.  After meeting Young Eun in Paris, he decides to spend some time living and working in Seoul.  He leases a studio and sells portraits and ID photos.  When he finds out that Young Eun is the woman his brother had been in love with, he is curious about her.  But he is also afraid of her reaction when he tells her who he really is.  He becomes determined to win her heart, regardless of her connection to his brother or his mother's strong disapproval.  

As an illegitimate son, Jae Guk grew up in the shadow of his older brother.  When his brother died in an accident, he was left feeling alone and guilty.  I really love Jang Ki Yong, but I feel like we have seen this overly optimistic guy in love with an older woman before.  There was nothing new in this performance, and while at first I loved his stubborn optimism, the forced smile seemed to become more strained as the story went on.

Kim Joo Heon as Seok Do Hoon

Seok Do Hoon is Jae Guk's best friend.  He owns Vision PR Firm.  He is organized, mature and meticulous.  He falls for Hwang Chi Sook but in the beginning, Chi Sook isn't interested in him at all.  Fortunately, his charming personality eventually wins her over.  

♥ Friend Trio

While many of the relationships in this drama felt unrealistic and forced, I did enjoy the friendship these women share.  Their interactions seemed sincere and honest.  Especially after they find out that Mi Suk is sick.  The way they band together to make the best of a painful situation was touching and sweet.  Their interesting perspectives on love and loss made their conversations thought-provoking, even if I didn't always agree with their opinions.  

 ♥ Ji Min

The young actress who played Mi Suk's daughter, Ji Min, was a bright spot in this otherwise dreary drama.  Her innocent bravery was inspiring to watch.  If all adults could roll with their punches the way this sweet girl does, the world would be a better, stronger place.  The joy she showed while visiting her mom to show off her award at the end was so bittersweet and beautiful.  I hope to see much more of her in the future. 

Chemistry

As I said earlier, I really love Jang Ki Yong, which is why this drama was so disappointing.  He and Song Hye Kyo never seemed to find a natural chemistry that made their relationship feel real.  Recently, in an interview, Jang Ki Yong himself called their interactions awkward, and I would have to agree.  I just never felt it with these two.   

Moms

These moms were all horrible in their own way.  Even Mi Suk's mother-in-law, who we only see briefly, is cruel and selfish, while having no idea how sick Mi Suk is.  I couldn't understand any of them.  They were short-sighted and didn't seem to care at all about their own child's happiness, all the time using their age to somehow justify a wisdom that was sorely misguided.  

"Now, We Are Breaking Up" doesn't end any stronger than it began.  Young Eun and Jae Guk agree to peacefully go their separate ways, even though Young Eun is very tempted to accept his invitation to move to Paris with him.  So Jae Guk goes off to have a show in Europe and Young Eun starts her own label.  Hwang Chi Hyung  and Jung So Young join Young Eun at her new label while the rest of the gang stays at SONOS to carry on their work.  Chi Sook and Do Hoon finally make up and things seem to be going in the right direction for them.  Two years later, we find Soo Ho adjusting to life as a single parent.  For now, Min Kyung has decided to step in as a big sister for Ji Min when she needs it, but she and Soo Ho are not romantically involved.  Ji Min visits her mom's grade and proudly shows off an award that she won.  Chi Hyung and Do Hoon are taking the next step and moving in together.  Jae Guk is back from Paris and goes to another fashion show in Busan, where he is hoping to run into Young Eun.  As he walks through the city, watching for any sign of her, the crowd splits and she is standing in front of him.  The two stand smiling at each other and that is it.  The end, or maybe the beginning?